Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat stated that they started increasing textile and apparel exports in January and that this increase will accelerate, and said, “Some industries and manufacturers that are leaving the Far East are shifting their investments to Turkey. Not a day goes by without our government receiving demands on this matter.”
The 7th Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Fashion Fair (Istanbul Fashion Connection-IFCO), Europe's largest ready-to-wear event, has started at the Istanbul Expo Center.
Speaking at the opening of the fair, which is organized by the Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Apparel Exporters' Association (İHKİB) and is the global prestige organization of the Turkish fashion industry, Minister Bolat said that last year they reached 262 billion dollars in goods exports and an estimated 115 billion dollars in services exports, reaching a total export of 377 billion dollars.
Bolat stated that they are targeting 280 billion dollars in goods exports and 120 billion dollars in services exports this year, and said, "Hopefully, we will reach 400 billion dollars together."
Bolat stated that the ready-made clothing sector is of great importance to everyone and is the first love and star of the Turkish industry, and that they attach great importance to ready-made clothing and textiles, which are net exporters and employment-intensive sectors.
Bolat stated that they are ranked 6th in the world in “ready-made clothing and apparel” and “textiles and raw materials”, and that they are the second supplier country in textiles and the third supplier country in ready-made clothing in Europe.
Noting that IFCO was established 3 years ago and quickly became the most prestigious and largest ready-made clothing fair in Europe, Bolat said, “I wholeheartedly congratulate the hardworking team and the authorities of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. As the Ministry of Commerce, we show that we stand by not only IFCO but also all tradesmen and the export family with our work and support at every opportunity.”
“We started the new year well in textile and apparel exports”
Minister Bolat stated that the carpet and furniture fairs he attended here in the last month were very productive and the participants were happy, and said, “Hopefully, IFCO will also be filled with abundance, a productive fair will take place, and your faces will smile. As long as your faces smile, we will be happy and pleased.”
Bolat stated that they closed the previous year in textile and apparel with a decrease of 2023 percent compared to 2,4 and with an export of 32,1 billion dollars, and that they left behind a difficult year for world production and trade, but despite this, a positive trend emerged in all main macro indicators, and that they will achieve sustainable high-rate growth figures with strong stability in 2025 and 2026.
Bolat reminded that the ready-made clothing and apparel sector exported 19,7 billion dollars last year and continued his words as follows:
“Our textile sector also closed with an export of 9,4 billion dollars. We started January well here. The textile and apparel sectors realized a total export of 1 billion dollars with a 2,6 percent increase. We believe that this will accelerate even more in the coming months. Because Europeans, Americans, Far Easterners or other geographies believe that Turkey is a good producer and supplier country with high-quality industrial production, good technology and fast delivery. Some industries and manufacturers that are leaving the Far East are shifting their investments to Turkey. Not a day goes by without our government receiving such requests.”
“IFCO has become the largest, highest quality and most productive ready-made clothing fair in Europe”
Minister of Trade Bolat noted that textile and ready-made clothing exports increased by 4 percent annually in January and made the following assessments:
“After IFCO, after Texhibition (fabric and yarn fair) in March, these orders will increase even more. Because this fair will host more than 8 thousand visitors in 40 halls. The purchasing delegations, which we support as the Ministry of Trade, have enabled buyers from many countries to come here to place orders. Hotels in this region are completely full.”
Bolat, speaking about the support provided by the Ministry of Trade to the ready-made clothing, textile and apparel sectors, said, “There are 8 participating companies in 500 halls at IFCO. With these data, it has become the largest, highest quality and most business-intensive ready-made clothing fair in Europe. As the Ministry of Trade, we are supporting 2025 percent of the stand installation costs and promotional expenses at IFCO 50. Purchasing delegations are also within the scope of our support.”
Bolat, who spoke about the developments in the Turkish economy and stated that they have been growing uninterruptedly for 17 quarters, said that their income from tourism last year increased to 61,1 billion dollars and the size of the tenders won by the contracting sector abroad reached 28 billion 650 million dollars.
“It is time to create strong and big global brands.”
Minister Bolat stated that as the Ministry of Trade, they are making significant efforts to develop exports and provide exporters with access to financing, and talked about the support provided and projects implemented in this field.
Emphasizing that costs in rediscount credits will continue to fall, Bolat concluded his remarks as follows:
“Istanbul and Turkey are a shining star in exports, fairs, contracting and tourism. We have reached a good position in fairs. It is now time to create strong and big world brands. We will write success stories in every field. The apparel sector had a somewhat difficult year last year. The most important reason for this was the low demand in our most important market, Europe. Despite this, our exporters worked with all their heart and soul. We believe that the ready-made clothing and apparel sector will write more success stories with its strong supply and production capacity, fast delivery and very good designs. We will never abandon the ready-made clothing, apparel and textile industry, which is the first apple of Turkey’s eye and Turkish industry, and we will continue to grow, strengthen and support it in every field.”
After the speeches, Bolat cut the opening ribbon, visited the stands in the fair area and chatted with the participants.
